The Patriots and Mike Vrabel have done all the right things in the 2025 offseason, almost a complete reversal from the dismal 2024 version. That would have graded an F except for their one shining moment, drafting Drake Maye with the third overall pick.
Maye was mishandled entirely by whoever was involved in his use during his rookie season. Getting no first team reps at all in the entire preseason and almost none until week four or five of the regular season, trashed 2024 before it even began. It was a case study in player mismanagement.
Regardless, Maye still overcame all the odds and excelled once he was inserted into the starting lineup, even without any preparation. He had a great rookie season, a Pro Bowl nod, and presented such a shining picture that Mike Vrabel chose to hitch his horse to the Patriots' wagon when he could have had his pick of NFL head coaching jobs. And now Maye is getting noticed.
Bills' great quarterback Josh Allen is big a fan of Drake Maye
In an article by Nick Goss of NBC Sports Boston, he cited Buffalo Bills' great quarterback Josh Allen's admiration for young Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, while discussing how the addition of Stefon Diggs can enhance his game moving forward.
"I think he brings a lot of security for Drake. Obviously, having the knowledge of playing in the league for so long, he has that veteran mentorship that he can give to Drake. I think Drake is super talented; he’s one of my favorite young quarterbacks in the league.
"I've spent some time around him, and he's got his head on his shoulders the right way. He just does things the right way. I think that he exemplifies football. He'll take it and run, he'll throw it, and to have someone like Stefon is going to help him out a lot."
It's no shock that Allen likes what he sees of Maye. He sees himself! As Goss noted, both have similar skills. They both have strong and accurate arms and, importantly, can run. While Allen is more of a bruiser and Maye more of a finesse runner, both get the desired results by gashing the opposition for big yardage on runs.
Drake Maye is on his way to stardom, and Josh Allen sees it
There is no better compliment in sports or anywhere else than being recognized as top-notch by your peers. It's as good as it gets and must be especially gratifying for Drake Maye to hear. While being limited in his rookie season by others' poor decision-making, he still managed to improvise, adapt, and excel. He had a great rookie season despite little support.
Allen recognized that, and when you receive such recognition from your peers, and the NFL's MVP to boot, who, if he stays healthy, is on track to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it has to resonate. You have to be aware and maybe a bit humbled if you have your head on straight by such high praise.
Maye is well-grounded. Such praise won't inflate this young man's self-image. It will drive him to work even harder to meet Allen's expectations. That attitude is exactly why Vrabel was willing to take on a terrible team and get to work to remake it into a contender in one offseason. He has Drake Maye. There'll be no sophomore slump for the Patriots' young quarterback.
The future is rosy for the Patriots going forward. Vrabel knocked the offseason out of the park and gave Maye the tools he needs to succeed. Vrabel and Maye are on a trajectory to challenge the mighty Bills for AFC East supremacy, if not this season then next. And even the great Josh Allen can see the competition coming.